Page 24 February 2011 The Southern Cross
www.adelaide.catholic.org.au
news
After reading in The Southern Cross (April
2010) about the work of Jesuit priest Father
Kike Figaredo with Cambodian land-mine
victims, Adelaide sisters Catherine Byrne
and Louise Tully set off with their 18 year old
daughters to find the Arupe Centre in the far
north-west of Cambodia.
Catherine and Louise had previously been to
Cambodia to undertake a 500km bike ride for
charity and had organised to return with their
daughters -- and suitcases filled with donated
supplies -- to volunteer at the New Hope Centre
in Siem Reap, one of the poorest slum areas
in Cambodia.
Touched by the story of Fr Kike, they decided
to make the "pilgrimage" to the centre at
Battambang and make a small donation. In
an email seeking Fr Kike's contact details,
Catherine wrote that she and her sister were
also inspired by their recently deceased aunt,
Josephite Sister Mary Byrne, who had been
very supportive of their charity ride.
They arrived at the Arupe Centre only to find
that Fr Kike had just left to visit his native
country of Spain but they were pleased to be
greeted by "the humble and barefoot" Filipino
priest Father Totet Banaynal who had been
living there for some time.
"Just as we were in awe of the commitment
and passion that drives these great people to
live and care for those less fortunate in these
harsh conditions, Fr Totet also was in awe of
the stories and memories we shared of our
dear aunt, Sr Mary Byrne, who also devoted
her early life to caring and nurturing orphans
at Largs Bay Orphanage in Adelaide," said
Catherine.
"Coinciding with their arrival at Arupe Centre
was that of a grief stricken young girl called
Chhaya, who had come to seek the church's
help to start studying again.
"Our envelope was sealed to offer Mass for
Aunty Mary and it was an opportune moment
to ask Fr Totet to put it to good use.
"Whilst our visit was brief, the energy and
kindness emanating from the staff caring for
these kids was obvious. The deformities they
have been left with, whilst heartbreaking, seem
to have little effect on their attitude to life -
this centre is simply amazing as they all buzz
around in their makeshift wheelchairs, crutches
and often ill-fitting prostheses, wearing smiles
as large as their hearts."
After departing Battambang the girls spent
seven hours in a "leaky, creaky boat" as they
travelled along the murky Mekong to reach
their destination at Siem Reap.
They made their way (uninvited) to the tranquil
Jesuit Reflection Centre run by Sister Denise
Coglan, a friend of Fr Totet's, who greeted
them as if they were family.
"You feel the peace cloak you on arrival, this
is a very special place...she creates a little
miracle of her own. As she was not expecting
visitors her fridge is bare, but she soon
rustles up some cheese from here and some
bickies from there, we all share a cold beer
in the searing heat, in the hut overlooking the
gardens of reflection below."
As the group departed, she provided them
with the much sought after cakes of lice soap
made by the Jesuit community to take out to
the destitute people living in Mondul 3, Siem
Reap. Here the women were rostered to assist
with rice drops to starving families, schooling
to the children, and delivering the 80 kgs of
medical and educational supplies and the
25kg/13m long main-sail (to be erected over
the medical centre as a makeshift waiting
room) they had brought with them from
Australia.
̨ For information on volunteering at
Mondul 3, visit www.newhopeCambodia.com
Cambodian catch-up
CONNECTED: Catherine and Louise visit landmine victims they read about in The Southern
Cross during their time as volunteers in Cambodia.
THIS AUTUMN, from March 9 to April 17, our community is uniting with hundreds of other cities around the
world for the largest and longest coordinated pro-life mobilization in history: the 40 Days for Life campaign.
Recognising that "with God all things are possible," people of faith are praying that this effort will help bring an end
to the tragedy of abortion.
40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign that has already mobilized over 400,000 people worldwide, saved
more than 3,500 lives from abortion, led to the conversion of 43 abortion workers, and seen nine abortion facilities
close. 40 Days for Life is made up of three components:
• Prayer and Fasting: believers throughout our city are invited to join together for 40 days of fervent prayer and
fasting for an end to abortion
• Peaceful Vigil: stand for life during a 40-day peaceful public witness outside the Pregnancy Advisory Centre,
21 Belmore Tce, Woodville Park
• Community Outreach: help take a positive, upbeat pro-life message to every corner of
our city through media efforts, advocacy, and public visibility
Learn how you can speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves
here in Adelaide by contacting Lionel W Rodrigues, on 0450 515 978 /
prayforlife@australiaonline.net.au or by visiting Facebook:
40 Days for Life Adelaide, or:
www.40daysforlife.com/Adelaide
March 9 to April 17